Irish doctors to avoid Teva drugs
A professional association in Ireland voted to recommend a boycott of Teva Pharmaceuticals products, affecting roughly 12.5% of local prescriptions.
By Jenna Mitchell ·
Ireland's Hospital Consultants Association has recommended that its members stop prescribing, administering, or using medicines made by Teva Pharmaceuticals when clinically equivalent alternatives are available. The motion, passed last week, aims to influence the approximately 12.5% of prescriptions in Ireland that currently involve Teva products. The association stated that the move should not compromise patient safety, treatment continuity, or clinical outcomes.
The recommendation was introduced by Thomas Donnelly, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon in Ireland. Donnelly, who has treated families from Gaza, described the injuries of these patients as devastating and requiring lifelong management. He told the Irish Examiner that using products which could indirectly contribute to further bombardments was unconscionable. Donnelly said that where a clinically appropriate alternative exists, he cannot use Teva products in good conscience.
The association's motion cites ethical concerns and international scrutiny surrounding Teva in the context of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. It notes that these concerns have led healthcare professionals in Ireland and globally to question the procurement of Teva products when alternatives exist. The body explicitly committed to supporting and defending clinicians who choose to avoid these products for ethical reasons.
Teva Pharmaceuticals, an Israeli company, expressed disappointment to The Jerusalem Post on Sunday. The company noted that it has manufactured medicines in Ireland for more than thirty years. Teva stated that patients and healthcare professionals rely on these medications daily, both locally and globally. The company argued that healthcare should not be politicized and that treatment decisions must be guided by clinical evidence, patient needs, and professional judgment.
Teva warned that restricting access to medicines for reasons unrelated to patient care risks undermining the principle that individuals should receive the most appropriate treatment for their specific conditions. Despite its disagreement with the motion, the company said it remains committed to working constructively with Irish healthcare professionals to ensure a consistent supply of high-quality medicines.
The vote follows recent actions by the UK’s Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Pharmacy. Those bodies ended commercial partnerships with Teva UK weeks ago, although they did not call for a product boycott. Teva Ireland describes itself as one of the largest suppliers of prescription medicines to the Health Service Executive. The company notes that one in every eight prescription packs supplied to Irish pharmacies is a Teva medicine.
The association's recommendation is effective immediately for its members. Teva said it will continue to monitor the situation as clinicians implement the new guidance. The company expects to hold further discussions with Irish health authorities in the coming weeks to address supply logistics.
